She let her left arm hang loosely by her side so it wouldn’t get crushed between them, but wrapped her right arm around him and leaned into him, resting her head against his chest. She took a deep breath, then let it out, relaxing a bit. Her new papa’s arms felt as secure as her old papa’s had. And for a brief moment she felt like she could let him carry her bad emotions. Just for a few seconds. Then she’d take them back. But for now — a dad hug.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Tomhas let her decide when to let go; he wasn't sure how long she needed a hug but he'd be there for her until she let go.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
She almost hurt a man so completely and utterly wonderful as Tomhas.
She couldn’t do that to him. Not ever. She didn’t know what was going to happen or when or why — but she was going to trust him. Trust them. She wasn’t going to be the one to hurt him.
“I won’t do it,” she murmured into his chest, voice barely audible and eyes closed. “I promise. I’ll talk to someone.”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Tomhas simply nodded. He was so glad she said that, that she'd promised. It was comforting to think she listened, that she was going to help herself get better.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Ky held him for several more long moments, taking deep breaths and forcing herself to begin metering them. To relax. To put herself back together. Then she leaned away from him. “Thank you.”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"I'm glad you're okay-ish now." He nodded at her, sitting crosslegged on the floor beside her bed now. "Things'll work out, Ky, you'll see."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“I hope so,” she murmured, rubbing her face. “I wish I was smart enough to outsmart Aleth. I don’t know what he has planned — if anything — after all that.”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Had," Tomhas corrected. "And I promise we'll get to the bottom of that." "Sooner rather than later," Gaius added. "Once I have what I need to know from you I'll send out letters."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Ky nodded. “Whatever you need. I’m happy to help however I can.”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Whenever you're ready, we'll talk," he assured her. "I know emotions are running a bit high at the moment."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Ky nodded. She thought she’d be able to have the conversation now, but she certainly wasn’t going to push the matter. That conversation was going to suck no matter when it happened.
But, then, she’d gotten through telling Tomhas she tried to kill herself. How much worse could this conversation be?
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Tomhas tapped absently at his leather boots, still watching Ky as if she was going to fall off the bed and shatter at his feet.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Ky watched Tomhas watch her. She’d done this, too. She’d shown herself to be unstable. And there was nothing she could do about it at this point. But she was going to do her best to restore his confidence in her. She hoped she could, anyway. She let a silence pass, then, “Is Tadaaki okay?”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Haven't seen him since yesterday," Tomhas admitted, getting to his feet. "Would you like me to fetch him?"
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“I mean, I don’t need him. But he is also…” Ky hesitated, glancing at Tomhas then Gaius and back again with a blush. “Neither of us were particularly good at holding up under him. I just want to make sure he’s okay and not…” making stupid choices like she had almost done. He probably wouldn’t. He was more stable than she was. Had always been fueled by the desire to be reunited with his family. She doubted he’d leave them. But she also didn’t know how he was holding up.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate. — Sigmund Freud
